Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 541 Saint Hephaestus's Sand Table Game

Within the Mirror Kingdom, the collapsing arena suddenly stopped collapsing.

The Key of Light, representing [emotional resonance], the Wrench of Fury, representing [life creation], and the Corridor of Wisdom, representing [harmonious order], all slowly rose to the surface.

The three keys began to slowly rotate around Ron, creating a mysterious resonance between them.

“This phenomenon…” Acelia’s golden eyes widened, “They are constructing some kind of high-dimensional structure!”

As the resonance grew stronger, the three keys began to weave intricate light trails in the air.

These trajectories overlap and interweave, ultimately forming a three-dimensional, ever-changing runic lens.

Each facet of the lens reflects a different aspect of reality, as dazzling and kaleidoscopic as a kaleidoscope.

Ron raised the "tri-phase lens" and shone it through the seemingly empty void before him.

In an instant, the world underwent a fundamental change.

First, a blurry outline; then gradually clearer details; finally…

A magnificent, breathtaking palace slowly emerges from the conceptual dimension.

This palace is made entirely of pure light; every beam, every wall is solidified starlight.

On the throne at the highest point of the palace sat a figure radiating starlight.

When He slightly turns His head, the entire palace pulsates in response, as if He were the sun itself in this dimension.

“That face…” Ron stared intently at the Lord of Light’s face, a sense of familiarity welling up inside him.

He quickly recalled the ancient books and materials he had read, especially those historical records about the succession of the "Creator".

In *The Legacy of the Age of Oblivion*, Gould described in detail the portrait of Saint Hephaestus, the "Perfect King," the chief disciple of the Creator:
"His eyebrows were as sharp as if carved by a knife, his eyes were as deep as the night sky, his nose was as high and straight as a sculpture, and a transcendent smile always played on his lips..."

The more he looked at the Lord of Light before him, the more he felt that he bore a striking resemblance to the appearance described in the ancient texts.

Especially their extraordinary temperament, they are almost identical.

"Carlos." He called out to the Time Hound he had just tamed in his mind:
What do you know about this place?

Carlos's calm reply came from the silver pocket watch:

"Based on the information I obtained as a guardian, this is actually the outer manifestation of the 'Artisan's Labyrinth'."

"And that Lord of Light is the embodiment of the obsession of Saint Hephaestus, the chief disciple of the legendary 'Creator' and the 'Perfect King'."

Carlos's voice was solemn:

"To be precise, this can no longer be considered Saint Hephaestus himself, but rather a 'pure idea' that separated out of Him in the process of pursuing ultimate perfection."

"A morbid existence trapped in a perfect cage of its own making for more than an epoch..."

Just as Ron was still processing this information, the Lord of Light on the throne slowly spoke.

"Challenger. You have passed the screening and proven that you are qualified to engage with true 'creation'."

The Lord of Light rose from his throne, and the light throughout the palace rippled with his movement, like the tides in a sea of ​​stars:

"Now, I give you the final test—to remove the last shadow from my kingdom."

He stretched out a hand and pointed to a spot below the throne.

Ron followed the finger and saw a puzzling sight:

In the boundless light, in this kingdom that should have been absolutely perfect, there existed a tiny but extremely profound darkness.

That shadow was like a black hole in an ocean of light; though insignificant, it stubbornly refused to be dispelled by any light.

It formed a blinding contrast with the endless light around it.

“If you can dispel this shadow, I will acknowledge you as a true ‘craftsman’ and pass on all the wisdom I have gained in my life to you.”

The Lord of Light's eyes gleamed with anticipation:

"For millennia, countless challengers have failed this test. Can you succeed?"

Nari stood nervously on guard behind Ron:

“Honey, I feel something’s wrong… That shadow feels strange to me; it doesn’t seem like simple darkness.”

Acelia also frowned:
"My dragon instincts tell me that it is some kind of 'essential mapping'."

Perhaps, it is some kind of projection from the depths of this 'perfect king's' heart.

Ron stared at the stubborn shadow, his mind racing.

As a historian, he has a keen insight into the deeper meanings of various fables.

Moreover, he had heard the complete story of "The Sun King and the Kingdom in the Mirror" from "The Complete Explanation of the Extraordinary".

This is clearly a different interpretation of the same philosophical proposition.

The traditional answer is obvious—the dialectical relationship between light and shadow, the interdependence of perfection and imperfection.

Any scholar with basic philosophical training can provide a standard "wise answer".

Ron did not attempt to use any spells, nor did he rush into action.

He simply stepped forward calmly, facing the Lord of Light who exuded boundless majesty, and slowly spoke:
"Your Majesty, I am sorry I cannot fulfill your request."

These words silenced the entire Palace of Light.

Hephaestus's light flickered slightly, as if waiting for further explanation.

"Because your greatest achievement is definitely not creating this country without shadows."

Ron's voice echoed clearly in the Palace of Light:
"On the contrary, your true wisdom lies in this: even on the long journey of pursuing perfection, you have retained this unique shadow that belongs only to you."

He pointed to the darkness beneath the throne:
"It is precisely because of this shadow that your light is so real and so powerful."

"To eliminate it is to deny the very meaning of your existence."

"True perfection is never 'without flaws,' but rather 'the perfect definition and acceptance of even flaws.'"

This is the standard answer based on the fable tradition.

Under normal circumstances, such an answer should be recognized, or even appreciated.

However, after Ron finished speaking, what awaited him was not the relief and reward he had expected.

Instead, the light in the entire palace suddenly became as blinding as a nuclear explosion, and even the air itself was distorted and deformed under this terrifying light pressure.

"That's it again!"

Hephaestus's roar tore through the hall like thunder:
"Another one of those overly clever answers!!"

He suddenly stood up from his throne, and the oppressive aura emanating from him made Nari and Azalea feel somewhat suffocated.

That anger contained the pent-up disappointment accumulated over millions of years:
"You poets who only know how to talk about philosophy! You philosophers who only know how to play with words!"

"You don't understand at all! You don't understand anything!!"

As He raged, the entire Palace of Light began to undergo violent structural changes.

It was like a flame ignited by anger, which shattered into countless fragments of light.

"What I need is not affirmation of my 'imperfections' from the weak!"

Hephaestus's figure grew even larger within the vortex of light:

"What I need is a craftsman who can truly understand and is capable of fixing the flaws in my work!"

As the palace completely collapsed, a sand table floating in a sea of ​​stars emerged.

It slowly rotates in the sea of ​​stars, waiting to be shaped and utilized.

"This is my real 'workshop'!"

Hephaestus's voice contained a terrifying obsession:

"What I'm pursuing is not simply eliminating the shadows."

"What I want to create is an ultimate kingdom where even shadows can be perfectly defined and completely controlled!"

"A supreme system in which all variables—including 'imperfection' itself—are under my absolute control!"

He waved his hand, and the dimensional sand table began to resonate.

That sound was like the first chord at the dawn of creation, containing infinite possibilities:
"The previous tests were just to filter out those mediocre people who only know how to talk nicely."

“Now, Ron Ralph.”

Hephaestus's eyes, as bright as the sun, were fixed on him:

"Prove your true wisdom to me, and play a sand table game with me!"

"Of course, it's just a little game for me, but for you... you'd better take it more seriously."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire Star Sea fell silent.

………………

Without giving the other party a chance to refuse, this embodiment of the perfect king began to explain the specific rules:
"Before we begin, let me show you a few classic opening strategies."

Hephaestus's tone became as patient as a mentor's, but there was a hint of disdain in his eyes:

“After all, a true craftsman needs to understand all the possibilities in order to make a wise choice.” He first demonstrated the first opening scenario on the sand table.

As the light flashed, a group of tall, muscular humanoid creatures appeared in one corner of the sand table.

That is the [Warrior Race] whose core values ​​are strength and honor.

These creatures are born with powerful physiques and an indomitable fighting spirit.

The warriors quickly established city-states centered around the arena, selecting leaders and allocating resources through constant gladiatorial combat and conquest.

The entire social structure is simple and efficient, and each individual is aware of their position in the power hierarchy.

"The Warriors' advantage lies in their strong early expansion capabilities and significant military dominance, making them suitable for quickly unifying surrounding areas."

Hephaestus waved away the first demonstration and began to show the second:

【Sage Race】—A group of elf-like creatures with exceptionally long lifespans and innate magical talent.

The cities they built were like giant libraries, with each building a repository of knowledge.

This civilization developed slowly but extremely steadily, possessing a level of occult knowledge and academic accumulation that surpassed that of other races.

"The advantage of a wise start lies in its huge potential in the late game and its comprehensive development of the tech tree, but it is very vulnerable in the early game and needs to be managed carefully."

The third demonstration is of the Merchant Race—a shrewd halfling race.

They possessed an innate sensitivity to precious metals and gemstones, and the city-states they established were centered around trading markets.

Through trade networks and financial systems, this race is able to influence the development trajectory of other civilizations without directly participating in wars.

"The characteristics of a merchant-led start are strong adaptability, rich diplomatic skills, and the ability to resolve most conflicts through economic means."

After Hephaestus demonstrated three distinct openings, His expression became playful:

"Of course, these are all relatively 'high-quality' options, but considering your disappointing answer just now..."

He sneered and grabbed a seemingly chaotic racial prototype from the edge of the sand table:
“I think this is more suitable for a ‘poetic’ idealist like you.”

As He moved, a group of mixed-race refugees of various shapes and seemingly random appearances appeared before Ron.

These creatures are clearly the product of a mixture of multiple races:

Some possess the strength of orcs but lack their discipline;
Some possess the agility of elves but lack their elegance;
Some inherited human adaptability, but also shortsightedness.

"A mixed-race vagrant—what an apt metaphor." Hephaestus's tone was full of sarcasm.

"Just like your bizarre philosophical views—wanting everything, but nothing being pure."

These mixed-race refugees start in a very bad state on the sand table.

They have no fixed place to live and make do with simple tents;
There is no unified cultural identity, and numerous internal factions exist.

Without a clear direction for development, they can only rely on their survival instincts to eke out a living.

Even more critically, their basic attributes are at a disadvantage in every aspect:
Their physical constitution is inferior to that of the Warrior race, their wisdom is not as good as that of the Sage race, and their business acumen is far inferior to that of the Merchant race.

The only "advantage" is the "unpredictability" brought about by the mixed bloodlines.

But this had almost no value in the early stages of civilization's development.

"So? Are you satisfied with the 'gift' I carefully prepared for you?"

Hephaestus’s smugness was palpable as he looked at the group of half-blooded refugees teetering on the brink of collapse in front of Ron.

Faced with such blatant malicious targeting, Nari angrily tried to protest, but Ron gently waved his hand to stop her.

"A very challenging start."

He nodded politely in response, showing no anger whatsoever at this deliberate attempt to embarrass him.
"A true craftsman should be able to create miracles under any conditions."

"That's easy to say," Hephaestus chuckled.
"Then let's see what kind of 'miracle' you can create."

Round One: Survival Crisis

Hephaestus chose the [Sage Race] at the start.

As for the other orcs, dwarves, halflings, etc., they are left to develop as NPC-like factions.

Once the game officially started, the gap between the two civilizations immediately became apparent.

The Sage Race that Hephaestus chose is steadily developing on the sandbox.

They leveraged their natural longevity to make long-term plans and established a systematic knowledge transfer system.

Elven mages studied ancient spells in the Emerald Tower, alchemists synthesized precious materials in laboratories, and scholars recorded every important discovery in the library.

The entire civilization was like a precise clock, with each gear operating perfectly on its predetermined track.

In contrast, Ron's mixed-race refugees are facing a near-desperate survival crisis.

Lacking a unified leadership core, various factions began to fight fiercely for limited resources.

The strongmen with orc blood believe that everything should be resolved by force;
The elegant type, with elven blood, insisted on maintaining so-called "civilized manners";
The pragmatists, comprised of descendants of humankind, advocated surviving first and worrying about everything else.

With the three parties deadlocked, the entire ethnic group is on the verge of splitting apart.

"Honey, this can't go on!"

Nari anxiously reminded him in his mind:

"They're about to fight! You need to find a way to get them united!"

"Unity?" A disdainful expression appeared on Acelia's small face:

"The dragon race never relies on so-called unity."

The real solution is to establish an absolute hierarchy—where the strongest rule and the weak obey. Simple, efficient, and without unnecessary words.

"Wait." Carlos's voice came from the pocket watch:

"According to my calculations, while direct authoritarian rule may temporarily stabilize the situation, it will suppress the race's only advantage—the innovative potential brought about by bloodline diversity."

“I suggest adopting a ‘crisis-driven’ strategy.”

Ron listened to all sides and ultimately chose a highly risky plan:

He deliberately made the mixed-race refugees face more serious external threats by introducing a group of ferocious [Wilderness Raiders] into the sandbox.

At the same time, he secretly manipulated the situation, ensuring that the raiders' first attack struck the most radical and powerful of the three factions.

These are the orc hybrids who advocate for resolving issues purely through force.

As some of the stronger warriors fell in pools of blood, the other two factions realized:

Without sufficient military force, their "civilization" and "pragmatism" are nothing but empty words.

When the raiders launched their second wave of attacks, the previously underestimated remnants of the strong faction suddenly became their most valuable allies.

Elegant mages provide magical protection for warriors, while pragmatic craftsmen forge better weapons for them.

For the first time, the three factions truly recognized the value of each other's existence.

Despite suffering heavy casualties, the mixed-race refugees ultimately repelled the raiders' attack.

This life-or-death ordeal also helped them find their own place—a new race capable of integrating multiple advantages.

[Round Two: Development Bottlenecks]

After entering the second round, Hephaestus's Sage Civilization displayed a terrifying rate of development.

They established the first mage academy, the first alchemy laboratory complex, and the first portal connecting to another dimension on the continent.

The mages even began to try to artificially modify the weather to keep the entire territory at a suitable temperature and humidity all year round.

This is a race that is rapidly advancing towards a magical technological civilization.

While Ron's mixed-race refugees survived the initial survival crisis, they faced new development bottlenecks.

They lack systematic knowledge transfer, professional skill division, and long-term strategic planning.

Whenever they tried to learn the advanced technologies of other civilizations, the mixed bloodlines became an obstacle—no one could fully master any one specialty.

"This kind of ragtag development model has no future at all."

Hephaestus made no attempt to conceal his contempt:

"Look at my mages, they are now able to summon thunderstorms and control volcanoes and tsunamis."

Your mixed-race refugees are still struggling with basic metal smelting technology.

He was right; the gap between the two sides is widening.

"Perhaps we should consider changing our strategy?" Nari suggested worriedly.

"Focus on developing a specific area and abandon unimportant fields?"

“No,” Acelia objected resolutely.
"Specialization means giving up adaptability. The survival philosophy of the dragon race is: it is better to be mediocre in everything than to have a fatal weakness."

"Both of your viewpoints actually point to the same conclusion."

Carlos added from the side:

"Given that most of the current resource sites are occupied, the optimal strategy is to find a suitable 'niche' for oneself, that is, a special location that other races are unwilling or unable to occupy."

(End of this chapter)